Over the last year, the Mets and White Sox have linked up in a variety of trade rumors, including names such as Lastings Milledge, JavierVazquez, AaronHeilman and MarkBuehrle.

At his blog for the Daily Herald, beat writer Scot Gregor writes that while Buehrle and Vazquez will be staying put, Jon Garland and Jose Contreras might be traded.

The 28–year-old Garland won 18 games in each of 2005 and 2006, but has posted an ERA lower than 4.00 only once in the last five seasons.

He is eligible to be a free agent after next season.

…i do not know much about garland…judging from his stat line, it appears that he allows a lot of hits and home runs, but few walks, while getting more ground balls than pop ups…

According to Gregor, “In Garland, [the White Sox] have a proven performer who can bring quality talent. A talent like, say, Milwaukee’s BillHall,” who he describes as, “exactly the type of player the White Sox need to get back into contention.”

Hall, 27, is signed through 2010, while earning roughly $7 million per season.

He hit 17 HR during 146 games in 2005, then 35 HR in 2006, followed by just 14 HR in 136 games for the Brewers last season, all while hitting .254, compared to .270 in 2006 and .291 in 2005.

…in other words, he’s been all over the map, and i do not know how any one can consider hall an ideal anything, let alone the exact type of player needed in a trade…very strange…

Gregor also wonders if Devil Rays OF Carl Crawford or Phillies OF MichaelBourne could be he had in a deal for Garland.

However, no place in his post, which deals a lot with young center field talent, does Gregor mention the Mets or Milledge.